The Philippine gaming regulator is preparing a new app to steer players towards licensed operators after revealing that around half of the online gaming websites accessed in the country are operating outside the legal framework.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) plans to launch the application before the end of 2026, with the initiative aimed at making it easier for players to distinguish between regulated and unauthorized gambling platforms.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco disclosed the figures during a budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country’s regulated online gaming market.
One in two sites accessed by players is illegal
According to PAGCOR, approximately 50% of online gaming sites accessed by Filipino players are illegal.
For the regulator, the problem goes beyond lost revenue. Players using unlicensed platforms may not have access to the same consumer safeguards, regulatory oversight or formal mechanisms for resolving disputes.
“The PAGCOR app has two main objectives: first, to curb illegal online gambling and second, to protect players by ensuring that they play only on platforms licensed and regulated by PAGCOR,” Tengco said.
The planned application is expected to help users identify legitimate operators and connect directly with approved gaming platforms.
New app to build on existing verification system
The project will expand on PAGCOR Guarantee, a verification service introduced in June 2025.
The existing platform provides an updated list of licensed internet gaming operators and allows users to access authorized websites directly. The new application is expected to provide a more accessible way for players to check whether a platform is regulated.
PAGCOR has not yet disclosed whether the app will also be capable of actively blocking access to illegal websites.
Regulators target illegal operators and payment networks
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to tackle the country’s unauthorized online gambling sector.
PAGCOR is working alongside the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to identify illegal operators and disrupt the payment channels they rely on.
The regulator is also stressing the difference in protection between licensed and unlicensed gambling.
Players using regulated operators can turn to established dispute-resolution procedures if problems arise, while customers of unauthorized platforms may have far fewer options when disputes occur.
A growing challenge for the regulated market
The revelation comes at a difficult moment for the Philippine online gaming sector, where authorities are attempting to strengthen oversight while keeping players within the legal market.
With PAGCOR estimating that around half of the online gaming sites being accessed by Filipinos are illegal, the regulator’s upcoming app could become an important tool in the fight against the black market.
For PAGCOR, the goal is straightforward: make legitimate platforms easier to identify while making it harder for illegal operators to attract players.